Hey everyone! Happy Monday. I want to say thank you to everyone who left a comment on my post the other day about what percentage housing expenses are relative to your income.
I received a lot of great responses and hopefully it will help people determine if a house is right for them or not. So many people don’t realize that there is more to a house payment besides just the actual payment (mortgage, insurance, taxes, maintenance, etc.).
It seems like a hot topic in the personal finance community is whether a person should rent or buy a home. What if you’re not sure if a house is even right for you? Maybe an apartment would be better? There are many factors to think about before you buy a home.
When we were in the process of buying our first home, there were a lot of things to factor in. Yes, we were really young when we bought our house, we were 20 years old. Now, I don’t know if I would recommend buying this young for others. It has worked out for us, but we had to overcome many hurdles in order to get where we are.
We lived together for a couple of years before we decided to buy. We knew apartments weren’t for us (we have a big dog that we could never get rid of because she is my baby, and I lived in apartments nearly my whole life due to us constantly moving for my dad’s job).
My dad also preferred apartments/condos over a house with a yard because there were amenities (such as swimming pools and tennis courts) and he didn’t have to upkeep anything besides what was actually in the apartment. He enjoyed how carefree it was.
Also, W and I had rented a house together, and we knew what it was like to live in a house together. I knew for a fact that I did not want to live in an apartment or a condo. There is nothing wrong with condo living, different people enjoy different things.
Before we bought, I was tired of having no yard my whole life and something that wasn’t “mine.” I have moved a ton (when I was younger I went to a grand total of about 12 different schools), and I just wanted to stay put.
We knew we wanted a house, and the fact that houses were only slightly more expensive in our area definitely appealed to us.
However, we never really thought about how we would feel stuck if we bought a house. We were definitely thinking in the moment when we bought our house. We love our house of course, but I constantly wonder if I would be parading around the world if I didn’t have a house and so much STUFF.
Dreams of traveling extensively while we are young have definitely vanished due to us having to pay my mortgage. Oh well, that’s just the responsibility of growing up! I do love being a homeowner though.
Below are some questions to ask yourself before you buy:
Do you have a reliable income?
Buying a house means that you will have a constant bill to pay (your mortgage payment of course). So a reliable job and income is definitely needed. If you are freelancing, you will want to make sure that you will have enough to pay your mortgage along with any surprise expenses that may pop up.
Of course, the same could be said about having an apartment as well. An income is needed wherever you decide to live.
How long do you plan on living there?
If you plan on having kids and still staying the same house, then you definitely want to keep that in mind. However, if it’s just going to be 2 people in the house for a while, then do you really need a 3,500 square foot house?
Also, the general rule is that if you think that you will be living in the house for less than 5 years, that you should just rent instead. The costs of selling before 5 years usually outweigh renting. You will have many costs to pay if you sell, such as closing costs, realtor expenses, repairs, etc.
Do you plan on/want to travel?
This is one reason why we regret buying a house (but we still do love having it). Being able to travel for a long period of time is not possible, because we do have to think about how we are going to pay our mortgage payment every month and I’m a paranoid person so I would be afraid of squatters ruining the house if we cannot find a reliable house-sitter.
However, I do plan on making the switch to self-employment soon and traveling at the same time, and we will be keeping the house. We will just have to make it work!
Do you plan on moving a lot?
If you have a job/career that will require you to move a lot, then home ownership may not be for you. If you are moving every year, then home ownership will be way too expensive to justify the costs of hiring moving companies and things like packaging.
Is your credit good or great?
Yes, I realize that a lot of people view mortgages as the devil, but for most, owning a house without starting with a mortgage is near impossible. A better credit score (read my post on building credit) leads to a better interest rate, and therefore of course, a lower mortgage payment.
Also, a low credit score will lead you to not even being approved. Get approved before you start looking so that you’re not let down. No one wants to fall in love with a house only to find out that they can’t get approved for it.
Do you have enough for a down payment?
We didn’t put down as much as we would’ve liked, and therefore, we have to pay PMI. For our next house I plan on putting a substantial amount down or paying in cash. PMI is so much money every month and I would rather not pay it. Getting home loans without PMI is always great!
What other tips do you have for someone thinking about buying a house?
Do you prefer to buy or rent?
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- 6 Important Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying A Home
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Canadian Budget Binder says
Hey,
Like you I bought my first home at 21 but I was single and it was challenging especially to someone like me who thought I was a saver and not a spender. I knew most of what I needed but I was still young and with experience I am confident to say that I was not as prepared as I thought I was. You bring up many good tips here and for those who are on the fence all I can say is do your homework.
CBB
Michelle says
Wow I did not know that you bought it all by yourself! That is awesome!
Thomas | Your Daily Finance says
We enjoy having our house. That being said you need to plan for the unknown. Even when buying the home a lot of expenses can arise that are more than just the down payments. We live in a flood zone and near great schools so we pay more than a lot of our friends for the location. One tip I have is figure out what works for you and what you want. I know this seems simple but a lot of people want a house because everyone else has or wants one. Nothing wrong with an apartment if your plans are to move around the country or travel the world. Do what works for you.
Michelle says
Yup, nothing is wrong with an apartment! If you plan on moving around a lot or want to travel, it’s probably best to have an apartment.
Alexa says
I am definitely a house person. I have lived in the country with a huge yard my entire life and I couldn’t imagine anything different. I’m not a city girl so apartment and condo living just aren’t for me. I want to buy a house but I’ve made a pact with myself to be completely responsible. I will have my emergency fund and a 20% down payment in place before I begin to look. Luckily housing is pretty cheap in my area so the possibility of buying a home could definitely be in the next couple of years!
Michelle says
That’s great that housing is cheap in your area. I grew up in the city with no yard so I know that I don’t want that again as well.
kelly @stayingonbudget says
Great post! Yes, the other thing to consider is how much a fixer-upper do you want? I have a house that was vacant for two years and there is a ton of work. It’s not for everyone. If you like things done, to travel, or don’t like getting neck high into house projects, this isn’t for you. There are various degrees of updating–from cosmetic to major updates. All houses require maintenance and the degree of maintenance will depend on the age and how it was taken care of prior to you owning it.
Michelle says
Yes, there can definitely be a lot of maintenance when you own a house. Even brand new houses need maintenance and a lot of people don’t realize that.
DC @ Young Adult Money says
I would say another thing that young adults in particular need to think about is how much time they are willing to devote to their house. When you live in an apartment, the most effort you have to make on upkeep is to bug the office to send a maintenance guy. Tub drain not working properly? Put in an order and it’s fixed the next day (if you live at an apartment). On the flip side, if you own a house you will have to research contractors or figure out how to DIY. There’s pretty much always something MORE you can do, whether it’s cleaning or learning more DIY ways to improve the space.
Michelle says
Yes, there’s definitely a lot more research that needs to be done!
GamingYourFinances says
There’s a certain “pride of ownership” that comes with owning a house. We love to do our own renovations and improvements to make our house exactly how we want it, that’s not possible in a rental. We also were committed to living in one place for a while. As you say Michelle, it’s very important to make sure you’ll stay put for more than 5yrs, otherwise real estate fees will eat you alive!
Michelle says
Yes, this is exactly how I feel as well. I like having my own home.
Marissa @ Thirty Six Months says
That’s so true. Owning a house gives you that freedom to do whatever you want to do with it.
Holly@ClubThrifty says
We live in such a low cost area that it doesn’t make much sense to rent unless you can’t afford to buy for some reason. Renting probably costs around 30 percent more than buying in my area!
I personally like to own property vs. renting because I want to be able to do anything I want with it.
Michelle says
Same here! Buying is so cheap here and that definitely was a factor in our decision.
Michelle says
Thanks Nell! I will be sure to check out your post.
Alicia @ Financial Diffraction says
All great points regarding the finances. I think something that we found out while being townhouse condo owners (not responsible for outside maintenance, but inside we were) was that we have no real “handy-skills”. I am a quick learner and have tried my hand at many small repairs, but there are some things that I am scared to touch (i.e. plumbing/electrical). It seems the way of the all around handy-man (like my Dad who is 63 and can fix most anything properly) is gone like my parents generation because many people are so used to a disposable lifestyle.
Michelle says
W is kind of handy, but he is similar in that we always hire out for plumbing and electrical. That stuff just gets tricky!
Connie @ Savvy With Saving says
I would love to buy but I live in NYC and it’s hard to afford anything, even though I have reliable income and great credit.
Michelle says
Yeah, it would be a lot harder for us to buy in NYC. Everything is so expensive!
Mrs PoP says
We rented before we were ready to be in the same area for a while and then ought when we were ready. We like being homeowners, but get that it’s kit for everyone and some people are like your dad and like the hands off life of renting.
Michelle says
Yup! Different people prefer different things.
Todd @ Fearless Men says
This reminded of what a real estate agent friend of mine told me years ago: don’t buy a rental property unless you yourself would be interested in living in it. I thought it was absurd. You article made me flip that idea: if I buy a property, would I want to rent it out?
Michelle says
Great thing to think about 🙂
Joshua Rodriguez @ CNAFinance.com says
Hey Michelle, great post! I’ve been thinking about buying a house but, my fiance and I have decided that it’s just not the right time for us yet because of one of the reasons you mentioned here…we love to travel and we’re not sure where we want to end up! Thanks again!
Michelle says
If you want to travel, then buying a house might not be the best idea, so good for you guys for waiting! 🙂
Budget and the Beach says
I rent because of the high cost of homes in LA. I was almost ready to buy in Seattle when I lived there and had a stable job, but I didn’t feel emotionally ready. I just read an article yesterday that more people in LA are renting because people are getting outbid on homes (someone bid 59k over the asking price on a house) and the process is really frustrating.
Michelle says
Wow that is crazy! I have heard of that happening a lot lately. Insane!
Debt and the Girl says
My bf bought his house at 20 years old. Then he met me and its been a crazy roller coaster ever since. We are fortunate to have finally made some money off the house thru renting but it has not been easy. Home ownership is something that should def. not be for the faint of heart
Michelle says
That is good that you are starting to finally make some money!
Ann says
After reading all of the questions you pose, it seems like I am in good shape to buy a home, which is currently our goal right now, but I am still somewhat hesitant. We are currently paying close to what we would be paying on a mortgage on renting an apartment and with a baby on the way it would be so much nicer to be a home owner, but then the added stresses of owning a home is what I am uncertain about. Because the baby isn’t here yet, I don’t really have the perfect idea of what our finances will look like in a few months. Besides that, child care is so much, I’m not sure if I really want to add a mortgage onto that? But like I said, what I’m currently paying in rent is basically the same, so I don’t even know if it really makes a difference.
Michelle says
That’s great that you are really weighing your options. So many people don’t!
My Money Design says
I will always maintain that on average buying a house is better than renting. Your house is the only asset you own that you can physically live inside and use, and it generally appreciates unlike a car, appliance, tool, etc. Though times have been tough for housing recently, they have the power to make a comeback and things will continue to grow again someday (hopefully at a reasonable pace this time).
Michelle says
I agree!
Andrew@LivingRichCheaply says
I would like to buy a place, but it is tough living in NYC. Housing is very expensive so we’ve been renting for awhile, but rent is going up too. Now with a little baby, I’m really looking into buying a place.
Michelle says
And that’s why I love where I live. Cheap living but plenty to do 🙂
Nick (@ayoungpro) says
As you briefly mentioned, one of the things people overlook with houses is the cost of the “extra” expenses. If you are thinking about buying a house, it is a good idea to try to estimate things like taxes, utilities, maintenance, etc., and figure those into your monthly bill.
Michelle says
Yup! So many people overlook these expenses and it can really hurt them when something pops up.
Marisa says
Hello,
hope your having a great Monday,well I never have bought a house,but maybe some day I will I live with my parents and I see that its a hard thing to pay maybe cause my dad is the only one working,but maybe in my opinion if some day I consider myself to buy a house I would check also if we will have good neighbors because our next door neighbors there kind of mean people 🙁 we always hear them screaming to each other and they sometimes scream at our children when they are playing at our back yard saying not to scream or make loud noises thats why I’ll check that also before buying a house the neighbors and thanks for all your informaton it really help have a geat week
Michelle says
Thanks Marisa! I hope you’re having a great Monday as well 🙂
Yes, definitely drive by the house multiple times to see how the neighbors and neighborhood are! That’s always a great idea.
Michelle says
That’s good! I would do the same definitely.
Michelle says
Yup!
Romona @Monasez says
I want a house but I know it wouldn’t fit into the lifestyle I want to live. My goal is to live in the city and travel as much as possible. Plus, I’m single so its only me and I don’t think I would be able to keep up on the maintenance of the house unless I spent money for a contractor to come out every time something breaks. I want to have the proud feeling of owning a house so I want to get an investment property that way I’ll have a house and I can make some money at the same time. Great information. Thanks for sharing!
Michelle says
I think what you are doing is great!
Kyle | Rather-Be-Shopping.com says
Interesting post. So true that it is a huge decision to buy a home or not and one that kept me up nights. For me, it came down to wanting a place I could call my own and raise a family. A lot of security knowing that no one can raise your ent or kick you out.
Michelle says
Yes, I definitely like that I have a place to call my own.
Jason B says
At this point in my life I enjoy renting. I love to travel a few times per year. I’m also not sure if I want to stay in the current city that I live in right now.
Michelle says
These are all great reasons not to buy!
Shannon @ The Heavy Purse says
We’re homeowners and it was the right choice for us. But you are absolutely right that you have to make sure it makes the most sense for you and your lifestyle. There is so much expectation that you have to become a homeowner. I’ve seen people buy homes under that premise who really weren’t ready for the either the responsibility of homeownership or their lifestyle really didn’t lend itself to upkeep, etc.
Michelle says
Yes! I know of a couple of people who didn’t think about the purchase but bought a home anyways.
Rachel says
Ultimately, buying a home was the best choice for us. It hurt to make a really high rent payment every month for the apartment we lived in, when we knew what we could get in the way of a house for that same amount as a mortgage payment. We bought at 23 in an ideal location for both of our jobs, but also one that made sense for either of us accepting a different position in the same metro area. Sometimes I miss the carefree aspect of 24-hour maintenance. snow plowing and lawn mowing, but ultimately owning is the best choice for us where and when we are in our careers and our marriage.
We have friends who bought before they were truly ready and are unhappy with their home, which is heart breaking. We’ve also watched friends, who didn’t consider every aspect of owning a home and only looked at rent v. mortgage payment, not utilities, moving, up-keep and their debt and they were emotionally crushed when they couldn’t buy a house they fell in love with.
Michelle says
Yes! For us, the positives greatly outweigh any negatives of home ownership.
And I also know of many people who are unhappy and did not fully think about everything.
Brian @ Luke1428 says
Nice post and suggestions here. We rented for several years before we bought our first home. We didn’t buy until we had decided to stay long term in one area of the country. No sense in owning a home if you are going to be moving in a year or two. That is just going to bring tension if you can’t sell the home.
Michelle says
Buying if you are going to move in a year or two is most likely not the best choice.
Miss Entrepreneurette says
We do own a house. We bought it in 2011, a few months before our wedding. We love everything about it, except for the feeling stuck. Long term travel is just not an option for us right now because we have so many pets and I just couldn’t leave them for more than a week or two. But we do feel stuck in this town we moved to on occasion since we don’t know anyone here. It’s much more conservative and pretty far from any real stores (ok, Target. I just miss Target. and Trader Joes) but other than that we love owning our home. We had lived in a few apartments together, but I’ve always lived in a house and we both knew we needed outdoor space or we’d feel cramped long term. Plus with dogs, it’s needed. We were 24 and 25, still pretty young for buying a house. Especially since we come from southern California, out of all of our friends we were the first to buy a house and since then only one other couple has. Everyone else either rents or lives at home because the cost of living in the LA area is nuts.
I wish we had more to put down too, PMI is SO much every month in comparison to what our mortgage would be. But we were casually looking for a house and the price on this one just keep dropping and dropping until we finally decided it would be foolish not to buy it.
Michelle says
We’re the same. Long term travel would be very hard since I love our pets and couldn’t leave them.
The Norwegian Girl says
We´re renting, but we would love to buy our own apartment. The reason for apartment, is simply because it´s too expensive to buy a house in Oslo, but an apartment would be a good first step into real estate. We´re planning on buying an apartment hopefully within 2 years, and live there until we´re “done” with living in the big city and then move to the countryside where we can buy a big house for the same amount as an apartment. I guess the main reason we don´t really like renting is because it feels like a waste of money.
Michelle says
I can’t wait until you find the home of your dreams! 🙂
Tammy R says
I think I’ve convinced myself that I love my townhome. I actually do, but we have talked many, many times about it not having been necessary to own. I would not want a free-standing home (cannot stand yard work or imagine paying someone else to do it). I think if I could rewind ten years, I’d rent. We would have been better off investing that money and paying down debt!
Michelle says
Is your town home payment less than what it would cost to rent? If so, that is one positive 🙂
Tara @ Streets Ahead Living says
Renting is definitely not my preferred method of housing but in my current situation, houses are so outrageously priced that renting is the only option. In a few years we hope to move to a much more affordable area (with jobs) so that we can eventually buy.
Michelle says
Luckily housing where I live makes it very similar to renting.
Kelsie says
We bought our house because in our area it’s cheaper to buy than to rent. We should have it paid off within a year, which will make me love our house even more. But, I still miss having someone to do the yard work and fix leaky faucets.
Michelle says
Wow one year? That is awesome! congrats!
SuburbanFInance says
I’m going to sound like a snob here, but you couldn’t pay me enough to live in a condo. I need space and I hate being so close to neighbors.
E.M. says
Good points to consider. As of right now, we are renting because my boyfriend’s job will likely have him transferring a decent amount over the next few years. We would like to travel and see more of the US, so this doesn’t bother us at all. We’re nowhere near ready to settle down anyway! The costs of owning a home are a little daunting right now.
Michael says
For me, I’m content to rent. I know I’m “wasting” money buy not investing into something that will earn equity, but personally, I don’t want to pay school taxes or property taxes. I prefer to have maintenance taken care of by someone else. For me, renting is easier. Someday I want a condo/townhouse, and I know I’ll have taxes then, but the idea of having a whole house doesn’t entirely appeal to me.
TB at BlueCollarWorkman. says
Great questions. My wife and I bought a house when we were about 23 or so. We knew we wouldn’t want to move again, we just wanted to get a little house, pay it off, and live their until we’re old and wrinkly. And so far, that’s what we’re doing 🙂 I think some people are really scared of buying houses, and while I think it should be thought through, people shouldn’t forget that when our parents were younger and ouru grandparents, they were doing “grown up” things a lot sooner than us. Having kids, getting jobs, having a home… don’t be afraid. Think it thorugh of course, but don’t be afriad.
SavvyFinancialLatina says
We have lived in apartments and are so ready to move out. We want a house with a big yard so there’s space between our neighbors, and a bigger space. We have outgrown our 700 sq. foot apartment, and it’s hard to have family or friends over. We have no place to put them.
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer says
Wow, 12 schools is a lot, Michelle – that must’ve been kinda tough. We prefer to own ourselves, but I can see more and more how people would want to rent, simply due to the lack of responsibility. It does make sense to rent for a lot of people.
Pretired Nick says
My top tip is to only buy if you can afford a 10-year loan. It keeps you from buying too much house and sets you up well for the future.
Michelle says
I bought my first home (that I’m still in) in 2007. I did it the completely wrong way but lucked out (fool’s luck!) Fortunately, despite my mistake: zero down. I managed to buy a tiny place in an amazing location for basically nothing! I am accelerating my payments as we speak. I really love my place 🙂
Martin says
I’m both! I own a place which I rent out for a high price. Then I rent a place with my cousins where, well, things are wild!
Btw, you really bought a house with a partner at 20? That’s insane.
Crystal says
We bought our first home when we were 23. We bought our second home when we were 29, paid off the first one this year, and rent out the first one now that we moved. In our area (outside of Houston, TX), if you have great credit, buy. It’s simply cheaper than renting even with maintenance and taxes. For example, on that first house when we first bought it (before we paid it off, so we still had the mortgage), it was $740 for the mortgage, $250 a month in taxes and insurances, and $100 a month for maintenance stuff on average. That’s $1100 a month at it’s absolute most expensive. It rents for $1200-$1300 a month easily. It was claimed as a rental about a month before we actually moved out.
Sarah @ The Wanderblogger says
I have to laugh a little because I am exactly the person you’re talking about who should NEVER buy a house! We’ve bought and sold three homes since 2007. I don’t even want to think about all the money we’ve lost from buying homes and then moving 2 years later. I have resolved to be a permanent renter until I’m 70!
Sarah @ The Wanderblogger says
I have to laugh because I am exactly the person you talk about who should NOT buy a house! We have bought and sold three homes since 2007. I don’t even want to think about all the money we’ve lost from buying a home and then reselling it two years later. I have resolved to be a permanent renter until I’m 70! :o)
Paul | Debt Firms says
A rational homeowner is interested in the “total costs of owning a house”. But owning a house is like owning a pet. If you like the idea of being a homeowner “the costs” are a relative thing. In addition to having a place to settle down you can have many emotional reasons for owning a house.